About Me

Steven M. Hoefflin, M.D., F.I.C.S., F.A.C.S. graduated
first in his class at UCLA Medical School in 1972. He continued his
education in general surgery and completed a full plastic surgical
residency training program at the UCLA Medical Center, where he
received the Surgical Medal Award.

Dr. Hoefflin is an
international authority in aesthetic surgery. He is frequently
published in books and medical journals. He is board-certified
by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the
American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.). Dr. Hoefflin was Assistant
Clinical Professor (1979-1989) and Associate Clinical Professor
(1989-2003) in the Division of Plastic Surgery at
UCLA Medical
Center. He received the Teacher of the Year Award,
(1985-1986), and Best Clinical Faculty Teacher (2002-2003). He was
Chief of Plastic Surgery at UCLA-Santa Monica Hospital Medical
Center, (1982-1989) and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Brotman Medical
Center, (1980-1985). He is a visiting professor for the
International School of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Hoefflin is the
Immediate Past President of the Los Angeles Plastic Surgery Society.
Dr. Hoefflin is a member of numerous professional organizations
including the American Society for Plastic Surgeons,
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Lipoplasty
Society, Bay Surgical Society, Plastic Surgery Educational
Foundation, The Rhinoplasty Society, The Royal Society of Medicine,
and is a Fellow of The International College of Surgeons.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

The Quest for Beauty

Human faces have been extensively analyzed and mathematically
defined. Research in the study of a normal or average face has
opened up a new world in the ability to analyze, classify, and identify
faces. While a normal or average face has been studied extensively, a
beautiful face has yet to be successfully analyzed mathematically and
defined. Agreeably or disagreeably, the attractiveness of the male and
female figure is often described in measured numbers. Why not the
face? We do live in a measured world of mathematics and computers!

Today, more than any other era in history, there is an overwhelming
preoccupation with beauty. For centuries, poets and artists have been
unsuccessful in creating a consistent definition of what is beautiful.
There have been many artistic interpretations, yet a reproducible
mathematical definition is absent and clearly needed.

In today’s world, the modern language of computerized communication calls for reproducible mathematical data. It is important for
artists and surgeons to develop a mathematical equation that accu-
rately assesses, defines, and compares faces as (a) beautiful, (b)
attractive, (c) average, or (d) unattractive.

It is important to re-emphasize that for well over a century, the attractiveness of a woman’s figure (chest, waist, and hips) has been based
on numerical measurements (e.g. 36-24-35). The hip-waist ratio has
also been studied as a symbol of fertility and fecundity, important in
mate selection. Female facial beauty is also numerically related to the
volumetric curves and proportioned shapes of several locations on
the face. Male handsomeness, (to be presented in a future publication), is related to the positional angularity of the face, and its volumetric proportions.

The human face can be thought of itself as an “oil painting,” a true
work of art. Like a beautiful portrait, a face is complimented by the
skin (canvas), hair (frame), and teeth (matte). In my opinion, a
beautiful face combines facial features that are: (1) harmonious; (2)
shapely; (3) balanced; (4) elevated; (5) symmetrical; (6) highlight-
ed; and (7) in volumetric proportion and relationship.

Many believe that the true purpose of beauty has escaped those other
than the philosophers and artists.This is not true considering
that beauty has a definite purpose in nature.4, 14, 18 Insect pollinators
are attracted to the most beautiful or fragrant flowers, which ulti-
mately ensures genetic survival for both parties in a symbiotic relationship.In the animal kingdom, beauty can be correlated with
health, strength, and youthfulness. These qualities ensure genetic sur-
vival through preferential mate selection.

Unlike poets and artists of the past and present, my goal is to provide
a mathematical definition of a beautiful face, a very important step in
understanding facial beauty. Until now, a numerical classification has
not been successful in assessing facial beauty. Defining a face as beau-
tiful in an artistic context is quite simple; the difficulty lies in being
able to provide a precise, objective, and mathematical definition with-
out being surpassed by a subjective interpretation.

Whatever its reason, the quest for beauty is here to stay.A beautiful face will never be denied or ignored. Facial beauty offers its own
rewards to be shared, enjoyed, studied, and remembered.